Basket cover fastener



1934- w. w. HARGROVES ,3

BASKET COVER FASTENER Filed Jan. l0, 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w WWI-0mm JWI mmfiio Fgb. 13, 1934. 'w. w. HARGROVES' BASKET COVER FASTENER Filed Jan. 10, 1955 2 S heets-Sheet 2 flfflafyrouea.

Patented Feb. 13, 1 934 I UNITED STATES PATENT? oFFicE to Planters Manufacturing (30., Ina, Portsmouth, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application January 10, 1938. Serial No. 651.037

' 3 Claims. (01. 217-124) This invention relates to improvements in haskets, hampers or similar containers used in shipping and storing fruits, vegetables and the like, and more particularly the invention aims to provide an improved cover and fastening means for securing the cover to the body portion of the basket, hamper, or other container.

An object of the present invention'is to provide an improved fastener for securing a cover to a basket, hamper or similar receptacle wherein the fastener is composed of two fastening elements, one of which is secured to the side of the receptacle and adapted to extend upwardly on the inside thereof in order to engage the other fastening element which is secured to the cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a basket cover fastener wherein the fastener comprises two interengaging fastening wires, one of which is secured to the cover and has a closed end or loop portion which extends horizontally to a point within the top outside rim of the baaket whereby the other fastening wire, which is secured to the side of the basket and which extends upwardly on the inside thereof, may engage the closed end of the other fastening wire at a point within the edge of the top of the has: ket and thus firmly clamp the closed end of the wire adjacent the top edge 01. the basket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a basket cover fastener, of the type referred to, wherein the lower fastening wire is adapted to extend upwardly on the inside of the basket and pass between the cover and the top edge of the basket whereby to engage the other fastening wire which is secured to the cover.

A still further object of the invention is toprovide a basket cover fastener which may be readily applied to any form of basket, hamper, or the like, and which is inexpensively manufactured.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an. improved basket cover fastener which acts as a guide for the cover and which greatly aids in properly seating the cover on the top of the basket. t These and other objects of the invention will be obvious and will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:---

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tall hamper with the cover secured in proper position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the inside of tail.

' thereto.

as it is guided into place by the fastening elemen Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing a portion of the cover secured to the hamper.-

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a bushel basket with the improved portions applied Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, taken along line 6-8 of Fig. 5, showing the cover secured by the fastener.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the wire fastening elements.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view, taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the usual handle construction.

In Figs. 1-4 of the drawings, a relatively tall hamper 10 is illustrated with the improved fastener applied thereto. The hamper 10 is formed in the usual manner and comprises a number. of slats 11 secured at intervals by hoops 12. The top ends of the slats are secured by an external hoop 13 which is substantially even with the ends of the slats and an internal hoop 14 which is suitably secured below the top ends of the slats so that a countersunk portion is formed. The top edge 15 of the internal hoop 14 thus providesa bearing surface upon which the cover 18 is adapted to rest. It will be apparent that since the cover is seated below the top of the hamper, an even surface across the top thereof will be provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The cover 16 is formed in the usual manner and comprises a series of parallelslats 1'7 which are secured together by cross battens 18.

A pliable wire fastening element 19, which is bent in substantially the shape of a hair pin, has the open ends 20 thereof passed from the inside of the hamper through the internal hoop 14, a slat 11, and the external hoop 13. ihe ends of the wire fastening element are then turned upwardly and securely clinched upon the outside of the extemal hoop 13, as shown at 21. The leg portions of the wire fastener are then bent upwardly on the inside of the hamper so that the closed end 22 will extend substantially above the top of the hamper so that the closed end 22 will extend substantiallyabove the top of the hamper, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A second wire fastening element 23 of staple-like or U-shaped configuration, has the open ends 24 thereof passed through a cross batten 18 and a slat 1! and the ends are then bent upon 'the under side of the cover, as

Fig. 3 is a. perspective view showing the cover shown at 25. toflrmly grip the same.- The leg thereof will extend beyond the edge of the cover 1 but not beyond the edge of theexternal hoop 13 when the cover is placed in position.

By referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the fastening wires 19 greatly aid in properly seating the cover on the internal hoop 14. of the hamper. An opening is provided between the closed end 27 of each fastening wire 23 and the edge of the cover 16. The closed end 22 of each lower wire 19 is adapted to enter this opening. The wire 19 then afiords a guiding or shoe-horn. efiect by properly guiding the cover into its closed position. The cover is forced down and properly guided by the wire 19 so that it will rest upon the edge of the internal hoop 14. This forcing down of the cover bends the wire 19 so that a portion thereof is ofiset, as at 28, in order that the wire will be close to the inside of the hamper and allow the cover to properly position itself as shown in Fig. 4;.

Referring now to Figs. 5-9, the improved fastener will be described as applied to the usual bushel basket 29. The basket is made in the usual manner and comprises a number of staves which are secured by reinforcing hoops 31. Around the top of the basket 29 and substantially even with the top ends of the staves 30 are tively which also serve to secure the staves. The

ends 21 of the wire fastening element 19 are passed from the inside of the basket through the hoops 32, 33 and a stave 30 and are then bent'upon the outside of the hoop 33 to firmly grip the same. The leg portions of the wire 19 are then bent upwardly on the inside of the basket so that the closed end 22 extends above the rim thereof, as shown in dotted lines in Flg. 6.

The cover 34 comprises a number of parallel slats 35 secured together by cross-battens 36 and a centrally located cross member 37. The member 37 is longer than the diameter of the cover and the ends 38 thereof extend beyond the edge of the cover and are adapted to pass through the handies 39, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9. At points registering with the position of the lower fastening wire 19, the cross battens 36 and slats 35 are cut away, as at 40, to leave a space through which the wire 19 may base when the cover is in .position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The remaining portion of the cover is substantially even with the external hoops 33 as shown in-Fig. 8. Adlacent the cut away portion to, the second wire fastening element 23 is secured. The open ends of the wire 23 are passed through the cover and clinched at 25 upon the under side thereof. The wire 19 passes through the space betweenthe closed end 2*! of the wire 23 and the edge of the cover and is bent down over the outside of the basket to firmly clamp the end 27 of the wire 23 against the rim of the basket. The closed end 2'7 of the wire 23 is depressed slightly-so that the same will bear upon the rim of the basket when the wire 19 is engaged in locking position therewith. 4

From-the foregoing description, it will be seen that a thoroughly reliable fastening means for securing covers on baskets, hampers, or the like, is herein provided. The firm clamping of the fastening wire 23 against the top edge of the beshot by the lower fastening wire 19 is highly desirable in that it aids in preventing the undue distortion of the fastening wires so that the same 5", y be used over and over again. This type of memes fastening means may be used with practically any type of basket with only slight modifications. Of course, the closed end 22 of the fastening wire 19 may be further secured to the side of the basket in locked position if it is so desired.

Of course, minor changes in details .of construction and application may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invehtiomwhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:,

1. In a basket, a cover carrying fastening elements, said cover being adapted to expose the top edge of the basket at least at points adjacent said M fastening elements, each of said fastening elements consisting of a U-shaped wire having the open end thereof secured to said cover and having the closed end thereof projecting beyond said cover but not beyond the outside top edge of the basket body, and additional wire members secured to the upper portion of the basket body, each of said additional wire members extending upwardly on the inside thereof and between the closed end of each of said U-shaped wires and the edge of said cover, said additional wire members cooperating with said U-shaped wires and being adapted to guide the cover into proper position on the basket body and being adapted to be bent downwardly on the outside of the basket body to clamp the closed end of said U- ghzged wires against the top edge of the basket 2. In combination with a basket having an internal hoop below the top edge thereof, a cover adapted to rest on said internal hoop, a fastener for securing the cover on the basket comprising a horizontal hoop or stable composed of a single piece of wire having the open end thereof secured to the cover and having the closed end thereof projecting beyond said cover but not beyond the top edge of the basket, and a second wire loop secured to the basket body and having the closed end thereof extending upwardly on the inside thereof and between the closed end of said horizontal loop and the edge of said cover, said second wire loop thus cooperating with said horizontal loop to serve as a guide for properly seating the cover on said internal hoop and being adapted to be bent downwardly over the outside of the basket body whereby to clamp the closed end of said horizontal loop firmly against the top edgeof the basket body.

3. In a'basket, a cover carrying fastening elements, said cover being adapted to expose the top edge of the basket at least at points adjacent said fastening elements, each of said fastening elements consisting of a horizontal wire loop having the open end thereof secured to said cover and having the closed end thereof projecting beyond the edge of said cover but not beyond the top edge of said basket, and pliable wire fasteners secured to the side of the basket to cooperate with the fastening elements in the cover, said pliable wire fasteners extending upwardly M0 on the inside of said basket and adapted to pass between the edge of the cover and the rim of the basket and through the closed ends of said fastening elements whereby to clamp said closed ends of said fastening elements against the top edge of the basket when the pliable wire fasteners are bent downwardly over the outside of the basket.

- WILLIS W. HARGROVES. 1w 

